MORRIS, Mahlon

MORRIS, SULLIVN, SNYDER, MCLURE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/12/2014 at 18:57:12

Biography ~ Mahlon Morris

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 564:

MAHLON MORRIS, one of the prominent citizens of Morgan Township, resides on section 11. He settled upon this farm November 1, 1868, and it is one of the finest farms in the township. It was first settled by Mr. SULLIVAN, who sold the claim to J. D. WASSON, of whom Mr. MORRIS purchased May 17, 1868. Mr. MORRIS has made many of the improvements. He has enlarged and repaired the residence and now has a commodious house. He has erected a barn 33 x 48 feet, which is a fine structure, the frame being of heavy timber. In the fall of 1881 he built a second residence on section 11. His buildings are all first-class both in structure and material. He has cleared sixty-five acres and done a large amount of fencing. His fences enclose nearly 400 acres. He has nearly 300 acres cleared in all. The farm is well watered, having three living wells and an ample supply of water for any amount of stock. On the whole there is probably not a more desirable farm for general purposes than is that of Mr. MORRIS. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 4, 1821. His father, JONATHAN MORRIS, was born in Loudoun County, Virginia. His grandfather, JOHN MORRIS, emigrated to Ohio in 1803, when JONATHAN was fifteen years of age. The latter lived in Columbiana County until his death, which occurred in April, 1865, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, SARAH (SNYDER) MORRIS, died in her eighty-fourth year. The MORRIS family are of Welsh descent and the SNYDERS of German. The parents of MAHLON had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters; six sons and two daughters are living. Our subject was married in Ohio to MARTHA E. MCLURE, and they have two children - CALVIN B., living in Denver City, and CHARLES M., who removed to Kansas in 1884. Politically Mr. MORRIS is a Republican, as were his father and six brothers; religiously he is a Universalist and his wife a Presbyterian. He is a mill-wright by trade and followed it until he came West.

Submission by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014